IGN is thrilled to unveil the latest details on Crunchyroll's third annual Ani-May, a month-long global celebration starting May 1. This event promises an exciting array of anime-themed merchandise, exclusive deals, partnerships, and immersive experiences both in stores and online. Fans can look forward to free-to-stream anime, new additions to the Crunchyroll Game Vault, and much more.

Ani-May is packed with thrilling offerings, and we've got all the details you need to make sure you don't miss out on any of the action.

Cowboy Bebop, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, and Chainsaw Man Lead the Selection of Free-to-Stream Anime During Ani-May

Starting May 1, Crunchyroll will offer some of the most beloved anime series for free with ads throughout the month. This is a perfect opportunity for fans to catch up on missed episodes or relive their favorite moments from classics like Cowboy Bebop, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, and many more. All you need is a free Crunchyroll account to dive into these incredible stories.

The full list of free-to-stream anime with ads during Ani-May includes:

• Black Clover (Seasons 1-4)
• Chainsaw Man
• Cowboy Bebop
• Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (The Complete Series)
• Fruits Basket (Seasons 1-3)
• Haikyu!! (Seasons 1-4)
• Heaven Official's Blessing (Seasons 1-2)
• Hell's Paradise
• Jujutsu Kaisen (Seasons 1-2)
• Junji Ito Collection
• Kaiju No. 8
• My Hero Academia (Seasons 1-7)
• Overlord (Seasons 1-4)
• Shangri-La Frontier (Seasons 1-2)
• Solo Leveling (Season 1)
• Soul Eater
• SPY x FAMILY (Seasons 1-2)
• The Apothecary Diaries (Season 1)
• Toilet-bound Hanako-kun (Seasons 1-2)
• Tokyo Ghoul (Seasons 1-3)

Merch, Partnerships, Food, Autographs, and Other Partnerships Based on Solo Leveling, My Hero Academia, and More of Your Favorite Anime

Ani-May offers fans a chance to celebrate their favorite anime with a wide range of officially licensed merchandise. From Solo Leveling to My Hero Academia, the Crunchyroll Store will feature new and exclusive product launches, deals, and a special Ani-May pin with qualifying purchases. Each week in May will highlight different product categories, including collectors' items, action/adventure titles, shonen shows, and fantasy favorites. Additionally, the day after the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards on May 25, fans can celebrate the Anime of the Year nominees.

Beyond merchandise, Ani-May will bring anime celebrations to life through various partnerships and experiences:

• UNIQLO will offer Crunchyroll codes for a 30-day free trial with eligible UT purchases online. They've also partnered with Manga artist Remi Yamamoto for the UTme! Collection, exclusively available at UNIQLO Soho and UNIQLO 5th Avenue in NYC. A special activation with Remi on May 18th at UNIQLO’s 5th Avenue location will feature complimentary live Manga portraits.
• Hot Topic will celebrate Ani-May across its U.S. and Canadian stores and online, with exclusive anime merchandise and special promotions.
• Best Buy will join the festivities with select products available online and in-store, including an exclusive SPY x FAMILY pin with eligible purchases at select stores.
• Planet Hollywood will offer exclusive experiences, cocktails, dishes, and merchandise inspired by Ani-May's select IPs.
• Funko Pop will host an autograph signing with the English voice cast of JUJUTSU KAISEN on May 3rd, alongside special event bundles.
• Bananya will partner with Fall Guys for a collection of skins available from May 1 to May 8.
• Demon Slayer fans can enjoy a re-release of Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train in theaters this May, gearing up for the upcoming Infinity Castle trilogy.

The Crunchyroll Game Vault Is Celebrating Anime With the Addition of Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth and More

The Crunchyroll Game Vault will join the Ani-May festivities with the addition of Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth starting April 30, followed by weekly releases throughout May and early June. Other titles include Corpse Party, Grisaia Phantom Trigger Vol. 1, Shin Chan: Shiro and the Coal Town, Shogun Showdown, and White Day. Launched in November 2023, the Crunchyroll Game Vault now offers over 50 titles to Mega and Ultimate Fan tier members in over 200 countries.

Own Your Favorites With Ani-May Home Entertainment Releases

Ani-May 2025 Home Entertainment Releases

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For those who prefer physical copies, Ani-May will see the Crunchyroll Store release a Limited Edition Blu-ray box of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 1 Part 2 (pre-orders start May 15) and Blu-ray SteelBooks of Paranoia Agent and Goblin Slayer Season 1 (on sale April 30). Additionally, Crunchyroll introduces the SteelNook, an open display case made from SteelBook metal that can hold four standard SteelBooks, available for purchase on May 30.

Ani-May Is a Global Party and Everyone's Invited

Crunchyroll's Ani-May celebrations extend globally, offering fans worldwide unique experiences based on their favorite anime:

In Latin America, the following partners will celebrate Ani-May:

• Liverpool in Mexico will host a special meet-and-greet with voice actors and feature products from fan-favorite titles.
• Suburbia in Mexico will offer in-store signage and 20,000 free trial subscriptions with eligible purchases.
• Ani-May celebrations will continue at CCXP Mexico!

The following European retailers from EMEA will celebrate Ani-May:

• Funside/Games Academy in Italy, HMV in the UK, Ireland, and Belgium, and Cultura in France will participate with store-wide activations, exclusive merchandise, and a chance to win a VIP weekend in Paris at Japan Expo.
• FNAC in Spain will launch a nationwide e-commerce campaign and offer free Crunchyroll subscriptions with purchases over 20€.
• ANVOL will expand Ani-May to the Baltic states and the Nordics, offering free Crunchyroll subscriptions with any Ani-May purchase.
• Little Things will introduce Ani-May to the Middle East at their stores in the UAE, Virgin Mega Store in Dubai, and ToysRUs locations in Dubai and Saudi Arabia.
• Yatta in Poland will feature Ani-May branded corners and an e-commerce takeover, with free Crunchyroll subscriptions available.
• Thalia and Müller in Germany and Austria will offer exclusive merchandising and manga across their stores.

Australia and New Zealand-based fans can look forward to the following retail activations:

• JB Hi-Fi in Australia will feature dedicated Ani-May end caps in stores, along with an editorial piece in the May edition of STACK Magazine.
• EB Games & Zing Pop Culture will offer a 30-day Crunchyroll Premium trial membership to EB WORLD PLUS sign-ups, along with exclusive products from JUJUTSU KAISEN, SPY x FAMILY, Chainsaw Man, and My Hero Academia.

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